SSFS Closing

[Anonymous]

Green Acres is def not closing that's simply not true!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder where displaced students will go.

Barry or Sidwell

It’s spelled Barrie.

Burke is also an option

Yeah, Barrie, Burke, and Green Acres as options.

Barrie and Green Acres will close next, so I wouldn't get on those sinking ships either. Burke, Field, McLean, Woods Academy, maybe Sheridan. I think just start calling around. I'm sure many schools will try to help if they have open spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Ok, so you are too good to put your kids in public. The financials of this school were disastrous. Loans, overspending, etc....not a surprise at all. Public is an option, its not that you don't have a school, you want a private school and the announcement came in late so its hard to find another private spot.

Many of us sandy springers came from public schools to sandy spring. We never imagined we would be going to a private school. But our kids were not doing well in moco due to over crowding, bullying, huge class sizes and not enough extra curricular activities. So its with a heavy heart we left public and now a heavy heart to lose the safe place of belonging we had and were deeply grateful to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school admissions in the area are working RIGHT now trying to help. I just emailed 4 schools and they all responded in minutes.

I emailed 3 schools immediately and have not heard anything.

[Anonymous]

This is awful. So sorry for everyone involved.

We have loved Friends Community School in College Park for our daughter. Outstanding school. It might be a good fit for the K-8 students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current parent of an 11th grader whose senior year is now ruined. Rage isn't even strong enough of a word to describe my feelings towards the Board of Trustees.

My initial thoughts:

Why the f**k didn't they send this on Friday? At least this way the kids could have the weekend to gather their thoughts and parents could've had the two days off to start to strategize and plan.

$14 million in debt and they thought that student enrollment would fix it? Does any of the BOT members have any idea how finance works?

They hired a new HOS who quit his job? How could they in good conscience have gone through that process?

They're still doing the AIMS process? I'm sorry why? Are they joking?

The email and FAQ are laughably insincere and insufficient!

I'm so so sad for all of the kids especially the current junior class, and all of the wonderful teachers and staff who's livelihoods have been thrown into turmoil by stupid decisions made by an unaccountable volunteer Board.

This is infuriating!

Is it that they expected to soldier on, but with people worried about Trump and the economy, they didn't get enough reenrollment contracts and couldn't find new ones?

Yes. This. They hoped that enrollment would be enough to at least keep the doors open and the lights on while they raised other money for repairs/pay debts. The timing sucks, but I don’t believe that any of this was done in bad faith - they wanted to keep the school open.

And before anyone comes for me for defending the BoT, or commenting on the bad timing, just don’t. I’m an alum and a current parent and I’m heartbroken.

[Anonymous]

If it really was they didn’t meet the numbers they needed for re-enrollment then why wouldn’t they do a last ditch call for donations from the whole extended school community? Why not even try, if it was a matter of 20 students tuition?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:


Many of us sandy springers came from public schools to sandy spring. We never imagined we would be going to a private school. But our kids were not doing well in moco due to over crowding, bullying, huge class sizes and not enough extra curricular activities. So its with a heavy heart we left public and now a heavy heart to lose the safe place of belonging we had and were deeply grateful to find.

This is a lovely post and I’m genuinely sorry for what you’re dealing with.

[Anonymous]

I work at a peer school and find this all so sad for everyone. Our school, like most, has already distributed its financial aid awards for next year, so it's the students who can't pay full tuition who will be the most harmed in all this. And of course, the faculty and staff. There are enough schools around that can still absorb a few full-pay students that many will find a place, even though they're applying off-cycle.

[Anonymous]

Do contact the Washington Waldorf School—not enough people know about it, and especially that it has a high school (and is still enrolling)! Our kids are thriving there—I’m very active in the parent community, and it’s a wonderful, welcoming place with so much to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is awful. So sorry for everyone involved.

We have loved Friends Community School in College Park for our daughter. Outstanding school. It might be a good fit for the K-8 students.

+1

Our child chose FCS over SSFS for middle school and it has been a great experience. We wanted a Quaker school so it worked for us as parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do contact the Washington Waldorf School—not enough people know about it, and especially that it has a high school (and is still enrolling)! Our kids are thriving there—I’m very active in the parent community, and it’s a wonderful, welcoming place with so much to offer.

We are touring there next week! They have been extremely responsive and understanding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids at the track meet were talking about it because they received the email right as the events were going on. (MS)

That is so sad. I feel bad for all families in the community.

[Anonymous]

Silver Oaks cooperative school is an option. We are happy with our current school. It offer K through 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:


Ok, so you are too good to put your kids in public. The financials of this school were disastrous. Loans, overspending, etc....not a surprise at all. Public is an option, its not that you don't have a school, you want a private school and the announcement came in late so its hard to find another private spot.

Many of us sandy springers came from public schools to sandy spring. We never imagined we would be going to a private school. But our kids were not doing well in moco due to over crowding, bullying, huge class sizes and not enough extra curricular activities. So its with a heavy heart we left public and now a heavy heart to lose the safe place of belonging we had and were deeply grateful to find.

This. We are not at SSFS but moved to private due to over-crowding and DC needing more support. Many who choose private don't feel their kids are too good for public. It's because some kids don't do well in the large environments, may have anxiety and we are just trying to provide our kids with the best support to succeed in both academically and emotionally.

[Anonymous]

What do people know about Friends Community School?